Would You Give Up For Any Of The Following Reasons?

Your life’s dream was enjoying sports. You lived for it everyday. But what if you were cut from your school basketball team in front of your team and told you’d never make it. So you locked yourself away in your room to cry of your failure. Would you decide to give it up?

Michael Jordan didn’t let it stop him…

And what if you were fired from your job at a newspaper and the reasons given were that you were lacking in initiative or indeed having any flair or creativity. Would you give up being creative?

Walt Disney didn’t let it stop him…

And what if your fiancé had recently died, your business had failed not once, but twice, you’d had a nervous breakdown and your attempts to be elected in politics had failed 8 times. Would you give up and lose the will to face another day?

Abraham Lincoln didn’t let it stop him…

Michael Jordan didn’t just succeed in becoming the best basket ball player of all time. He spent every second learning, practicing, and correcting his mistakes. He found a coach to keep him on track and to ensure he focussed on the things that would make the difference. And once he ‘made it’ he still didn’t stop. He continues to grow, to practice, to learn and to help others do the same. Surely that’s why we grow so that we can be the best that we can be and eventually give something back.

Walt Disney was a man of dreams. He dreamed big dreams. And he made his dreams come true. At a dinner party at Herb Ryman’s house in 1960, someone commented that Walt could be elected president if he wanted it. Walt responded by saying, “Why would I want to be President of the United States? I’m the King of Disneyland!”.

Walt Disney’s legacy continues to give pleasure across the world to so many children and adults alike.

Abraham Lincoln is remembered as one America’s greatest heroes because of his unique appeal. He rose from humble beginnings to achieve the highest office in the land. His distinctively human and humane personality and historical role as saviour of the Union and emancipator of the slaves creates a legacy that still endures.

In business today, you can take inspiration from great leaders to help you on your journey. You do have to take the knocks and the defeats and be able to get back up again. It’s a case of unlearning and relearning until you get the recipe that works for you.

A huge part lies in your ability to have a clear vision of where you want to be. And the determination to gain the knowledge necessary to reach your goal. In doing so, you can write your very own success journey too.

This is so true it makes me smile. I’m living proof that determination works.

Recently I fulfilled my lifelong dream of moving across country to California. I patiently waited for the kids to be in college and worked to make my business portable. Now, each morning I’m greeted by a gorgeous canyon view in the Oakland Hills. It may take longer than you want but that’s where the willpower & faith come in.

Hey, did you know that Walt Disney suffered thru miscarriage with his wife and a nervous breakdown before deciding to build Disneyland for the daughters he later had?

Everyone faces adversity of some kind. It’s what you think and do about it that sets you apart.

I don’t think there’s a successful person out there who hasn’t taken his or her share of lumps. Your examples of Michael Jordan, Walt Disney, and Abraham Lincoln are all excellent. My first book was rejected several times and even members of my family told me that I’d never get it published. However, I stuck with it and eventually published it with Prentice-Hall. That was the first milestone I can point to in my own early career development and success. It’s easy to remain optimistic and energetic when everything is going great in our lives. However, it is how we handle ourselves during times of challenge, crisis, rejection, and failure that define our character. I believe that we must think beyond overcoming our failures and disappointments; we must embrace
and use them to fuel our successes. Thank you for this excellent post. — Dr. Laura Hills, Blue Pencil Institute, Fairfax, Virginia